The Minister of Information and National Guidance who is also the National Spokesman Hon. Osman Abdillahi Sahardiid has revealed that the BBC WorldServicehas admitted to the BBC;sSomali Service bias

in its duties to the detriment of the integrity of Somaliland Republic.

The Minister gave the revelations after meeting the institution’s African Regional ChiefMr. Solomon Mogera and the Swahili and Somali serviceshead Mrs. Caroline Karobiawhen he met the duo in his office on Friday, according to our sister paper Dawan.

Hon.Sahardiidsaid, "The head of the BBC World Service Africa region and Swahili and Somali sections head were sent to this country to follow up the complaints of extreme bias against Somaliland that we had registeredagainst its Somali service”.

The Minister explained the extent of bias ofpro-Somalia atthe expense of Somalilandthatthe institution had been perpetrating, a fact he said, was admitted by the BBC regional chief.

The Minister said that he and the BBC officials pondered overthe accusations that hehad made against the mega news outlet which mostly concerned the bias and impartiality in its coverage especially where debating was concerned of SL versus Somalia.

The accusationscenteredon the BBC’s Somali Service deviation fromthe traditionalobjectives and fairness to the detriment of this country, a country which had a long history of relations with the BBC and British government.

The duo admitted thatwhen they reviewed and understood the contents of the February 17thdebate aired by the BBC Somali Service that was presented byaAbdinuurSh. MohammedIssahak, they admitted that it was grossly partisan and biased.

They however absolved the greater BBC World Service, its chief executives and the peoples of the UK and directly pointed the fingers to the BBC Somali Service as being the main culprit of themisdemeanor.

"If the BBC Somali Service is unable to earn the confidence of its listeners in Somaliland it is not the mistake of the Director General, news directors or the people of the UK but it is something confined to that section only (the BBC Somali Service)”, said Mr. Solomon Mogera.

Mrs. Karobia said that she has already taken the steps as deemed on errant scribes as per the regulations of the institution.

The BBC officials wereaccompanied by their colleaguein the BBC Trust who is the country rep Mr. Mohammed AbdillahiGaas.

It is to be noted that the BBC Radio Kudu (present day Hargeisa Radio) was the first ever Somali radio in the world. Similarly, the venue happens to be the place where the BBC world Director General set up its first ever out-post solar relay station (in anywhere on earth) a decade ago.